Latino Community Foundation invests $2 million to fuel civic leadership and support the creative economy

PoderArte, the latest initiative led by the Foundation, will support 28 organizations, artists, and cultural institutions committed to civic engagement and social change

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) announced today $2 million in grants to 28 organizations leveraging the power of the arts to organize, mobilize, and catalyze civic leadership across communities of color. Embedded within LCF’s Latino Power Fund, PoderArte will invest in the creative economy by funding artists and cultural institutions committed to increasing civic engagement and leading social change.

This funding will support efforts to increase voter engagement and shape the narrative about the power of Latinos in California. “Art fuels our social movements. When we tell our stories and shape our narratives, we engage a new generation of social change agents,” said Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. “Our artists and cultural institutions are essential to the civic, political, and economic fabric of Latino communities. As we prepare for another election, we stand firmly with these creative leaders in our communities.”

These grants are made possible thanks to a $60 million one-time General Fund allocation from the California Arts Council 2021 State Budget put forward by Governor Gavin Newsom to implement the California Creative Corps pilot program. “We commend Governor Newsom and the state legislature for these investments in the arts,” said Adriana Saldivar Sanchez, LCF’s Director of Community Organizing. “It is a vital investment to our vision of an equitable California for All.”

LCF will leverage the state funding to support nonprofits across the state and prioritize grassroots organizations in historically underinvested communities. “Radio Bilingüe is thrilled to be part of this effort that invests in artists and brings them into the fold of positive change-making. Together we can dream up a better California and bring important resources to artists in our communities,” said Executive Director, Hugo Morales. “We are thankful to the Latino Community Foundation for including us in the first round of PoderArte grants.”

The complete list of organizations that have received grants from the Latino Power Fund’s PoderArte Initiative:

Bay Area
Acción Latina | $50,000
Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas (CANA) | $50,000
La Peña Cultural Center | $50,000
NAKA Dance Theater | $100,000
The Latina Center | $50,000
Ubuntu Theater Project Inc. DBA Oakland Theater Project | $50,000

Central Coast
Artists Ink | $110,000
Hijos Del Sol Arts Productions | $50,000
Senderos | $33,000

Central Valley
Arte Americas the Mexican Arts Center | $150,000
Centro de Unidad Popular Benito Juarez | $50,000
Community Center for the Arts & Technology | $50,000
Loud for Tomorrow | $50,000
Youth Leadership Institute | $100,000

Inland Empire
Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective | $30,000

Southern California
Altamed Health Services Corp | $50,000
Arts for Healing and Justice Network | $100,000
Arts For LA | $150,000
Chispa Education Fund | $50,000
Community Power Collective |$50,000
Justice for My Sister Collective | $100,000
Las Fotos Project | $100,000
Plaza De La Raza | $150,000
Regional Organization of Oaxaca | $50,000
Tia Chuchas Centro Cultural | $50,000
Women Who Submit | $27,000

San Diego
TuYo Theatre | $50,000

Statewide
Radio Bilingüe | $100,000

This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

About the Latino Community Foundation

The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos in California. With the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country, LCF has raised over $95 million to advance this mission. LCF is the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino-led organizations. For more info, please visit: latinocf.org.